Valery Gergiev - Mahler: Symphony No. 4 (2017) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Valery Gergiev's commitment to late Romantic music has yielded impressive recordings of orchestral works by Anton Bruckner, Richard Strauss, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, and especially Gustav Mahler, whose symphonies received an impressive audiophile cycle from Gergiev and the London Symphony Orchestra on the LSO Live label. Gergiev appears to have embarked on yet another Mahler series, this time with the Munich Philharmonic, starting in 2016 with a stirring account of the Symphony No. 2 in C minor, "Resurrection," and followed by this 2017 release of the Symphony No. 4 in G major.

By far the lightest of Mahler's symphonies, its tunefulness, cheerfulness, and bright orchestration have made it a favorite with audiences. Gergiev is a forceful conductor, and his potential for heavy-handedness might seem risky in this gentle work, which can fall apart if played too aggressively. However, such worries are misplaced because Gergiev maintains a careful balance between the work's outward merriment and the more profound spirituality of the music. This mix of playfulness and innocence is apparent throughout, though it is ultimately expressed in the vocal finale, "Das himmlischen Freuden," which soprano Genia Kühmeier delivers with warmth and serenity.